Cathedral Safeguarding Officer

Role Overview

The role of the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer is to maintain and build on the strong culture of safeguarding at Southwark Cathedral and carry out an effective safeguarding role as a key visible member of the Cathedral team. The role holder will promote awareness and understanding throughout the Cathedral community (staff, volunteers and worshippers) of the needs of children and vulnerable adults and actively promote the philosophy that their interests are paramount.

The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of Cathedral safeguarding arrangements, good practice, policy and training. The Cathedral Safeguarding Officer will make sure that safeguarding risks are appropriately managed and ensure that the Cathedral is applying any emerging national policies, procedures and best practice so that our ways of working continue to remain current.

The role carries responsibility for safeguarding casework, including ensuring that allegations of abuse are promptly and appropriately handled, and where appropriate referred to the statutory authorities. Further, the role holder will effectively communicate and engage with survivors and victims of abuse.

The Cathedral Safeguarding Officer will advise the Cathedral on all safeguarding matters ensuring that all advice is in line with the law, government guidance and national policy and guidance from the House of Bishops. They will work collaboratively with the Diocese and the National Safeguarding Team. This includes playing a leading role in the preparation for the upcoming INEQE safeguarding audit of Southwark Cathedral and Southwark Diocese scheduled June 2026.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties

1. To lead the Cathedral’s work on the following National Standards:

• Organisational culture, leadership and capacity - Church bodies have safe and healthy cultures, effective leadership, resourcing and scrutiny arrangements necessary to deliver high-quality safeguarding practices and outcomes.
• Prevention - Church bodies have in place a planned range of measures which together are effective in preventing abuse in their context.
• Responding to and managing risk - Risk assessments, safety plans and associated processes are of a high quality and result in positive outcomes. The assessment and management of risk is underpinned by effective partnership working.
• Victims and survivors - Victims and survivors experience the timeliness and quality of Church bodies' responses to disclosures, and their subsequent support, as positively meeting their needs, including their search for justice and helping their healing process.
• Learning, supervision and support - All those engaged in safeguarding-related activity in Church bodies receive the type and level of learning, professional development, support and supervision necessary to respond to safeguarding situations, victims and survivors, and respondents, effectively

2. To be responsible for recording, investigating and managing all Safeguarding concerns;

3. To assist the CSL with production of monthly and annual safeguarding reports and to attend Chapter (as required) and Committee Meetings (as directed)

4. To assist in the production of risk assessments, policies and procedures where there are safeguarding aspects to them 

5. To provide advice in relation to obtaining criminal record checks (DBSs) for staff and volunteers

6. To network with other Cathedral advisors/officers, nationally. Other responsibilities:

7. To participate in performance reviews and appraisals

8. To ensure that professional skills are regularly updated through participation in training and development activities

9. Any other duties and responsibilities as may be required by Chapter

Start Date: ASAP

Salary: £30,000 (£50,000 pro-rata)

Hours of Work: 21 hours per week – over 3 days

How to apply: Please submit a CV and Cover Letter (no more than two sides of A4) outlining your suitability for this role, with reference to the main duties and person specification below. Applications should be sent to cathedralHR@southwark.anglican.org by Friday 13th June at 12pm.

Interviews: Friday 20th June 2025

Please refer to the Applicant Pack for full details and person specification